More Self-Control as a Child, Lower BMI as Adult?

Aug. 16, 2012 -- Children who show self-control in the face of temptation may be less likely to have weight problems as adults.

In a study published in the Journal of Pediatrics, 4-year-olds participated in a test measuring self-control between 1968 and 1974. Kids were asked to choose between an immediate small food reward (for example, one marshmallow) or to wait for an unspecified time for an even bigger treat -- two marshmallows.

According to the study, being able to wait it out was linked to lower body mass index as adults 30 years later. For each minute they delayed reaching for the tasty treat as children, there was a 0.2-point decrease in their body mass index as adults. At follow-up, 24% of 164 participants were overweight and 9% were obese.

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“We know that we are living in a toxic food environment,” says researcher Tanya Schlam, PhD. She is an assistant scientist at the University of Wisconsin Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention in Madison. “Fast foods are available everywhere and it’s so easy to not get any exercise and lead a sedentary life.”

The findings suggest that “having self-control seems to help mitigate or lessen that risk in terms of being able to resist the temptations that are all around us,” she says.

The study may also help identify kids at risk for obesity. Some seemed to know how to distract themselves in the face of temptation, while others did not, she says.

“Since our toxic food environment seems unlikely to change a lot in the near future, high self-control can help people resist overeating and stay at a healthy weight despite temptations.”

Teaching Kids to Make Healthier Food Choices

So how can one teach or foster self-control and delayed gratification? Schoolyard games such as other “Mother May I” and “Red Light, Green Light” can help kids learn self-control. These games encourage patience and listening skills.

“Parents may want to consider encouraging their child to learn martial arts, mindfulness meditation, or yoga,” she suggests. “Programs that help children increase their self-control involve lots of practice, with the tasks becoming progressively more challenging.”